Drive unit having a pot-shaped drum

Abstract

A drive unit is provided including an electric motor and a pot-shaped drum driven by the electric motor. The drum accommodates the electric motor and is connected by means of its pot base to the drive-side shaft end of the electric motor. Improved power utilization of the electric motor is made possible by at least one web extending in the axial direction of the drive unit and projecting radially into the gap between the housing of the electric motor and the drum inner wall. The at least one web is arranged on the housing of the electric motor and/or on the drum inner wall and/or at least one through-hole is provided in the pot base of the drum.

We claim: 
     
       1. A drive unit, comprising: an electric motor including a housing and a drive-side shaft;   a pot-shaped drum accommodating the electric motor, wherein a gap is formed between the housing of the electric motor and an inner wall of the drum, the gap having a radial width, and wherein the drum is driven by the electric motor and includes a pot base being an integral part of the drum and being connected to the drive-side shaft of the electric motor, the drum having at least one through-hole in the pot base, wherein the through-hole extends obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the drive unit; and   at least one web arranged on one of the housing and the drum inner wall, the web extending in an axial direction of the drive unit and projecting radially into the gap between the housing and the drum inner wall, the web having a radial width that is less than the radial width of the gap.   
     
     
       2. The drive unit of claim 1, wherein the web extends obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the drive unit. 
     
     
       3. A drive unit, comprising: an electric motor including a housing and a drive-side shaft;   a pot-shaped drum accommodating the electric motor, wherein a gap is formed between the housing of the electric motor and an inner wall of the drum, the gap having a radial width, and wherein the drum is driven by the electric motor and includes a pot base being an integral part of the drum and being connected to the drive-side shaft of the electric motor, the pot base having at least one through-hole, wherein the through-hole extends obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the drive unit; and   a first web arranged on the housing and a second web arranged on the drum inner wall, the first and second webs extending in an axial direction of the drive unit and projecting radially into the gap between the housing and the drum inner wall, the first and second webs having a combined radial width that is less than the radial width of the gap.   
     
     
       4. The drive unit of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first web and the second web extends obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the drive unit. 
     
     
       5. A drive unit, comprising: an electric motor including a drive-side shaft; and   a pot-shaped drum accommodating and being driven by the electric motor, the drum including a pot base at one end thereof and an opposite open end, the pot base being an integral part of the drum and being connected to the drive-side shaft of the electric motor, the pot base having at least one through-hole, wherein an inner wall of the drum extends obliquely outward towards the pot base, the through-hole in the pot base being aligned with the drum inner wall, and wherein the through-hole extends obliquely at the same gradient as the gradient of the drum inner wall.   
     
     
       6. The drive unit of claim 5, further comprising at least one web arranged on one of the electric motor housing and the drum inner wall, the web extending in an axial direction of the drive unit and projecting radially into the gap between the housing and the drum inner wall. 
     
     
       7. The drive unit of claim 5, further comprising a first web arranged on the electric motor housing and a second web arranged on the drum inner wall, the first and second webs extending in an axial direction of the drive unit and projecting radially into the gap between the housing and the drum inner wall.